Bare Facts Copyright 2015 Lake Edun Foundation, Inc. Official Publication of the Lake Edun Foundation, Inc. Spring, 2015 Box 1982; Topeka, KS 66601 ! e-mail: nude@lakeedun.com ! 785-409-0274 ! Website: www.lakeedun.com 38N 58' 7" North; 95N 47' 56" West Naturist Etiquette Welcome To The Lake Edun Foundation Like all cultures there are a few ground rules Naturists Thank you for taking time to learn more about the Lake Edun observe. For those considering a first visit, it is helpful to Foundation. We are a not-for-profit, educational foundation have an understanding of basic Naturist etiquette. dedicated to increasing awareness of the beneficial impact living a clothing-free lifestyle can have on the individual, No glass or glass containers: Glass sometimes breaks. families and communities in Kansas and Western Missouri. Thus, it is not permitted anywhere at Lake Edun. To accomplish this, we produce a monthly, educational Expectation of privacy: Naturists in general and Eduners newsletter, maintain a webpage, and host various public in particular are genuinely friendly. Still, naturists have an performances to expose others to the benefits of Naturism. expectation of privacy. Do not monopolize the time of new- We also lease a facility where supporters can experience for found friends. And, since some wish to keep information themselves the beneficial impact of being natural in nature. such as full name and employment personal, it is impolite to ask personal questions. If you have never visited any LEF activity or if it has been many years since your last visit, we hope the information in Photography considerations: Just because someone feels this special edition of Bare Facts will entice you to at least try comfortable being nude in a social setting does not mean they a clothing-free experience and visit us sometime soon. wish to be photographed. Cameras and cell phones with photo capabilities are prohibited. In the rare instances where For more information, visit our website, LakeEdun.com or photography is allowed, never photograph anyone without email us: [email protected]. Ask and we will send you a their permission. copy of the latest issue of Bare Facts. If you are convinced of the value of our mission, please support LEF with your Towels are standard equipment: Naturists carry a towel generous, tax-deductible donation. But, most important, we to sit on as a courtesy to others. Since others may not wish to want you to visit us either at our leased facility southwest of view our nakedness, if you are in one of the few areas visible Topeka or one of our other activities. Come by yourself or by others off the property, please use your towel to cover up. bring a friend to provide moral support. Staring and gawking: From childhood we learned staring is rude. It is considered just as rude in naturist circles. We DON’T FORGET understand there is normal curiosity at play during a person’s June 6; Sat; 12-2; Open House first visit so a certain amount of looking at others is tolerated. June 6-7; Camping for New Eduners Just remember: Naturists enjoy nudity for the sake of nudity; June 13; Sat; Evening with the Buff Astronomer not because they want others to look at them. Voyeurism or June 14; Sun; Noon; Yoga with Bradley gawking at genital areas or female breasts is taboo. June 20; Sat; 7pm; Wine & Cheese tasting June 20; Sat; Dusk; Movie Night Public sexual display: While we enjoy the bond sex brings June 28; Sun; 3pm; Photography Seminar to caring, consenting adults, we believe this is an intensely July 3-5; Clothing Independence Weekend private matter. As a family-friendly environment, any open July 5; Sun; 9 am; Yoga display of a sexual nature is not tolerated. Men concerned July 5; Sun; 12-2; Open House about erections during a first visit, can be assured it rarely July 11; Sat; 4; Walk-talk with the Arborist happens. Our atmosphere is not sexual and natural nervous- July 11; Sat; Evening with the Buff Astronomer ness during a first visit interferes with hormones. In the July 18; Sat; 7pm; Wine & Cheese tasting unlikely event, carry your towel in front or jump into the lake. July 18; Sat; Dusk; Movie Night Socializing: Aside from the absence of clothing, naturists July 25-26; Camping for all Eduners gatherings are like any clothed social gatherings. Coarse July 26; Sun; Noon; Yoga jokes, unwanted advances, excessive profanity or comments July 26; Sun; 3; Visit the Dermatologist (date tentative) about another person’s body parts are all unwelcome. Any Aug 1; Sat; 12-2; Open House behavior demanding an apology is unacceptable. Aug 15; Sat; Evening with the Buff Astronomer Aug 22; Sat; 7pm; Wine & Cheese tasting Photo identification: For the safety of guests and members, Aug 22; Sat; Evening; Movie Night everyone joining any Lake Edun Foundation activity is Aug 23; Sun; Noon; Yoga required to present an acceptable photo ID. Aug 29-30; Camping for all Eduners Genital piercing and jewelry: We wear earrings to attract Sept 4-7; Labor Day Weekend attention and frame our face. Because jewelry is intended to Sept 12; Sat; Evening with the Buff Astronomer draw attention, we do not permit any visible jewelry below Nov 7; Sat; 5-7; Annual Meeting the navel. What To Do; What To Do; What To Do My Story By: Danni First time visitors to Lake Edun, the magic place leased by the Lake Edun Foundation, often wonder what there is to do The first time my husband mentioned visiting a clothing- once they arrive. Most are astonished at the variety of optional place I thought, “you’ve got to be kidding!” Taking activities available. Few residents realize the beautiful facility my clothes off in public? I mean, I was still a little nervous to hidden in Shawnee County. go nude at home behind closed doors. But, we went. He walked around everywhere completely unclothed and I stayed Lake Edun is family-friendly with activities for all ages. covered from head to toe. But, I left very intrigued. Swimming, of course, is big. But, then, so is reading a book in a lounge chair. Or, visiting with other like-minded people. The next summer we visited Sandy Hook, New Jersey. I discovered very quickly that if I didn’t undress there, I would Kids from 8 to 80 enjoy exploring the miles of well-main- be the odd ball. So I did. I found it to be very liberating, tained trails we have. The hike provides wonderful exercise. comfortable, and cool (it was a hot day). We have since In the process, they can learn about the many trees and shrubs visited Sandy Hook again as well as Haulover Beach in along the way. It’s an opportunity to see Nature naturally. Florida, and Sauvie Island, Oregon. In addition to the hike, we have one completed exercise Then about two months ago, my husband mentioned visiting station and another is being built. We want our supporters to Lake Edun in Topeka. I was very cautious once again. be healthy enough to enjoy the beautiful gift Nature provides. Topeka is awfully close to home. I was afraid to let anyone Others prefer to fish in our 10 acre lake. For its size, it seems I knew that shy little Old me could possibly be nude in to be under-fished. Evidently, the avid fishermen don’t like public. But once again, I went – only this time it was differ- our dress code ... which is fine with Eduners who like to fish. ent. I liked it from the start. From the greeting and hospitality we received when we arrived at the barn to the immediate Perhaps your preference is gardening or canning. Members acceptance from those at the beach, I knew that I had nothing may maintain garden plots in which they may grow a variety to fear. Now, after being a member for two months – and of crops suited to the Kansas environment. If gardening is too four visits later – my nude inhibitions are gone. I look much effort, skip it and harvest the delicious Mulberries and forward to going and can’t wait to disrobe. Cherries. We have tasted some excellent jam from fruit grown naturally. Can anyone make cherry wine? Thank you Lake Eduners for welcoming us to this special place. Thank you for teaching me that I don’t have to be far Canoes and paddle boats are available to get to any area of from home to find the comfort and liberation that I first the lake. Some bring their own sail board or small sail boat. discovered that day on the beach in New Jersey. Some want to learn more about a special topic. We schedule brief seminars on subjects our supporters have expressed an Got Your D? interest in. Older adults severely deficient in vitamin D may be over What to do? With so much to choose from, we understand twice as likely to develop dementia or Alzheimer’s disease as why that becomes a difficult question. Visitors must some- those who don’t have a deficiency, according to the largest how narrow it down. study of its kind, published in the journal Neurology. Two Short Videos According to the study, adults who were just moderately deficient in vitamin D had a 53 percent increased risk of Young Naturists America continues to amaze. Here are two developing dementia, the general term for any severe decline short (too short?) videos produced by this organization. These in mental ability, while the risk jumped to 125 percent for are no “made in your parents basement” productions. These those who had a severe deficiency. Similarly, for Alzheimer’s are high quality, dramatically beautiful videos with high disease, the most common type of dementia, the moderately impact messages. What a great group of talented people deficient adults were 69 percent more likely to develop it, advocating for naturism! while the severely deficient had a 122 percent increased risk. The first, Nudism – What Nudism, packs two minutes and The lead researcher explained, “It’s a relatively large study, thirty six seconds with images, music, and text. It shows and it looks like it does show a pretty substantial link.… It naturism as it really is: vibrant, interesting and fun. just doesn’t show us why there is a link.” One hypothesis is http://vimeo.com/62971561 the brain, including the hippocampus, one of the first areas to break down with Alzheimers, is full of vitamin D receptors. The second, Body Image – Who Said Body Image Was Not A Real Issue!?!?!, tackles the subject of media driven, There is a growing body of research on the disease’s connec- impossible to reach standards of beauty and the devastating tion with vitamin D. Sunshine and supplements are the main consequences this has for many. This is a subject critical for sources. Minor sources include egg yolks and oily fish like anyone concerned about the health of our children. salmon and sardines. Vitamin D has also been linked, in various studies, to preventing asthma, diabetes, and cancer. http://vimeo.com/61438653 “…vitamin D has a profound mechanism of action, as it’s These powerful presentations present and discuss issues really a steroid hormone that turns genes on and off. No other everyone, even non-naturists, claim are important. Share them vitamin works that way. There are at least 1,000 different with everyone. genes directly influenced by vitamin D.” The council recom- mends a combination of cautious sun exposure combined When a man reaches the age of 77, you might expect him to with supplements in winter months. be walking around the golf course or indulging in some other https://www.yahoo.com/health/clear-link-found-between- leisure time activity, but Stuart is not your normal retiree. vitamin-d-deficiency-and-94074543072.html Late in life, he found a love for an unusual hobby... Naturism. Another major study published in the Journal of Internal “The feeling of freedom is fantastic,” he said. “When people Medicine found women who never sunbathe during summer are younger they might be self-conscious about what their are twice as likely to die as those who sunbathe every day. body looks like. But I’m past worrying about things like that. Researchers in Sweden claim guidelines which advise people Life is for living and I love being in the nude.” to stay out of the sun unless wearing sunscreen may be His first tentative steps into baring all came when he posed harming the population, particularly in countries like Britain. as a life model. From that moment his love of being clothes The new research followed nearly 30,000 women over 20 free has only grown. years. It suggests women who stay out of the sun are at This led to joining British Naturism which celebrated its 50th increased risk of skin melanomas and are twice as likely to anniversary in 2014. Soon after, he found like-minded souls die from all causes, including cancer. at a naturist resort. It is a fantastic place full of people who “Sun exposure advice which is very restrictive in countries enjoy taking their clothes off and has a host of activities. with low solar intensity might in fact be harmful for women’s At the resort there is an option to wear clothes, with no health. The mortality rate was increased two-fold among obligation to go naked. That comes in handy with Stuart’s avoiders of sun exposure as compared to those with the wife of 54 years who gives her husband her full backing in highest sun exposure habits.” “The findings support the his new pastime, but chooses to keep herself covered up. consensus that the ideal amount of sun exposure for Northern She explains, “If he’s happy doing what he does then that Europeans is ‘a little’, rather than zero.” means we’re both happy.” The study looked at 29,518 Swedish women recruited from Stuart has risked becoming very saddle-sore by taking part in 1990 to 1992 and asked to monitor their sunbathing and a naked bike ride for charity. Last year Stuart decided he tanning salon habits. After 20 years there had been 2,545 would participate in the World Naked Bike Ride. After deaths. Researchers were surprised to find that women who buying a bike he joined 150 others for the 45-minute ride. never sunbathed during the summer months were twice as likely to have died from any cause. Describing this adventure he said, “When we all got ready at the start we got some abuse from one person, but a bunch of Of those with the highest UV exposure, 1.5% had died, Japanese tourists rushed over and started taking lots of compared with 3% for women who avoided sunbathing. photos. They couldn’t stop smiling and laughing.” Women who sunbathed in the summer were also 10 per cent less likely to die from skin cancer although those who Stuart concluded by admitting, “It is a bit eccentric, but I am sunbathed abroad were twice as likely to die from melanoma. not harming or offending anyone. At age 77, it’s something a bit different that I enjoy. I wish I had discovered it earlier.” One researcher noted there is still strong evidence skin cancer is caused by sunbathing. However, another researcher http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/naked-truth-Stuart- pointed out striking a balance is important. She added, “The H a yw o o d - 7 7 - fe e l i n g -free d o m /sto ry-2 1 6 5 8 6 1 4 - reasons behind higher death rates in women with lower sun detail/story.html#ixzz3R4LYCLiB exposure are still unexplained, as unhealthy lifestyle choices Nude Yoga could have played a part.” Further, “Overexposure to UV radiation from the sun or sunbeds is the main cause of skin If you have any interest in yoga you have probably heard or cancer. We all need some sunshine to make vitamin D for read stories detailing that some studios around the country healthy bones. Enjoying the sun safely while taking care not offering nude yoga classes. Some are same gender, others are to burn should help most people strike a good balance.” mixed gender. In fact nude yoga has been offered in Kansas City and by the Lake Edun Foundation during the past year. h t t p : / / w w w. t e l e g r a p h . c o . u k / s c i e n c e / s c i e n c e - news/10811734/Why-avoiding-sunshine-could-kill-you.html Online video sites such as Tumbler, Vimeo, and YouTube to name just three, have a number of nude yoga demonstrations. It’s Never Too Late To Become A Naturist These permit novices to see the advantages of practicing yoga Some people’s zest for life never fades, regardless of age. without restrictive clothing. These are the ones who never grow “old.” Too many have a The Huffington Post, U. K. edition online has 40 photos self imposed concerns for what others might think, or there taken by professional photographer Petter Hegre of his wife is “proper” behavior preventing them from fully enjoying life. demonstrating nude yoga. Her skill level is truly amazing. Fortunately, some hardy souls defy the convention and chart http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/01/02/nude-yoga- their own course. They insist on trying new things and getting luba-shumeyko_n_4530895.html and the most out of life. Such is the case of a genial gentleman http://imgur.com/a/HfFQq from England who is anything but staid. We should all embrace his exuberant enjoyment of life. [Ed.] The Naturalist Naturist By Biology Bill Little creepy crawly bitey things kind as the bigger ones – they’re often just babies. Females and males both suck blood, but the difference comes for It’s summer again at Lake Edun, which is great: warm, sunny adults: females need a really big meal to produce a clutch of days, good swimming, lots of people around, and lots of eggs, while males only need to eat enough to hang out on the interesting critters to see. There are many interesting and also host and look for females to mate with. Yes, you too may completely friendly, even beneficial creepy-crawlies around become a tick singles’ bar. the Lake – just ask me about them sometime. However, this article is about the little critters that can be blamed for giving There are several kinds of ticks found commonly here in the rest a bad name – things that seek out people to bite. Kansas. There are lone star ticks, which are identified by a white spot (males have ‘em, females don’t), American dog Compared to other places I’ve lived, like New England or the ticks, and deer ticks. They can hang onto you for several days southern Great Lakes, eastern Kansas is pretty benign in if they’re not disturbed. Ticks really don’t use humans as terms of little biting critters. In particular, I’ve never seen their primary food (deer, dogs, rabbits and such are more nearly as many biting flies (deerflies, mosquitoes, gnats, commonly bitten) but they like us. Unfortunately, they also midges) here as in those places (you could never sit on your can spread serious and unpleasant diseases like Lyme disease. deck, or at the side of the lake, at dusk and get away with it As a safety note, Lyme disease symptoms are a flu-like bout – the bugs would eat you alive). But the big group of biting that goes away, often accompanied by a bulls-eye or other- critters here you really have to worry about are not flies, and wise odd-shaped rash around the tick bite. People don’t they don’t even fly: ticks and chiggers. always get the rash, so be careful of flu-symptoms in the Ticks and chiggers are not insects; insects have six legs, and summer. Fortunately, if caught early it is very treatable, and ticks and chiggers have eight. Ticks and chiggers are really heck, we’re nudists! Rashes are easily seen by our friends, members of the group Acari, or mites. Mites in general are and sick people can go to the doctor. small, non-winged arthropods (that’s the name for all critters The other group of our bitey mites is chiggers. These tiny red with jointed legs, a hard outer shell and no bones) that are mites also lurk on vegetation and grab onto hairs and clothes. related to spiders and scorpions. (A biologist who studies They are not similar to ticks for several reasons. They do not mites is called an acarologist.) Mites are incredibly diverse suck blood, but attach to the base of hair follicles and eat skin (that is, there are huge numbers of species out there), and cells. They do not burrow into the skin either, though they every bit of soil in Kansas is chock full of thousands of mites may hide a bit inside a follicle. Their saliva is very irritating eating tiny insects, little bits of organic debris, each other, to humans and makes us itch. (Shaving legs seems to discour- fungi, and other things. In fact, most mites don’t have any age chiggers as well.) Also, the chiggers we know and hate adverse effect on people, and usually perform useful func- are really only the nymphs, or babies, of their kind. After tions like cleaning up rotting organic matter. Unfortunately a feeding on people and other animals, chiggers drop off, turn few species have developed a parasitic lifestyle, and go after into adults, and spend the rest of their lives feeding harm- warm-blooded animals such as humans. (By the way, neither lessly in the leaf litter. Unlike ticks, chiggers are not very mites nor chiggers are much like fleas, other than also being cold-tolerant so you will be fairly safe from them if nighttime external parasites of warm-blooded animals.) temperatures drop much below 60 degrees. Fortunately, Let’s take ticks first. Ticks are a group of mites that are very chiggers do not spread any diseases I know about, but they compressed (flat), which helps them creep around on animals are so darn small you can’t pick ‘em off like you can ticks. If and underneath hair and feathers. Ticks gain all their nutrition you’ve been going for a walk around the lake or in tall and sustenance drinking blood. To find a host, a tick hangs vegetation, I would recommend hopping in the lake and out on the end of a leaf or grass stem, constantly waving its rubbing your legs vigorously to knock the critters off. front legs in the air. After doing this patiently for almost So, that’s the word on little some crawly bitey things you are certainly a very long time, some animal brushes past and the likely to encounter at Lake Edun. Sometime I’ll write on tick grabs onto a hair, feather, or article of clothing. (I have some happier and friendlier creepy-crawlies. noticed that women get ticks less than men do – this almost certainly has something to do with the likelihood that women A side note to those who asked, “whatever the heck this often shave their legs, and don’t offer ticks very much to grab snake is in the water!” It was a northern water snake, a totally on to. This only works without clothes on, of course.) harmless brown-and-gray blotchy character that hangs out in the water, eating fish, frogs, and other animals. It can get up Ticks do not burrow into your skin – that’s an old wives’ tale. to about 4 ½ feet in length, although it’s usually less than But they do find a nice, sheltered spot (like under a belt or four feet long. Because the bigger, darker, and poisonous inside a sock – another argument for not wearing clothes) and cottonmouth is not expected in our area, you don’t have to bite into the skin with their mouthparts. The tick taps into a worry about snakes in the lake. A water snake is not going to blood vessel, and uses blood pressure to fill itself up. An be personable like my two friends at home, but it will not ingredient in their saliva that keeps the blood from clotting come after you. If you see one in the Lake, calmly move out makes us itch like crazy. Ticks have several life stages, all of of the way and nothing bad will happen. which are blood-sucking. Tiny seed ticks can be the same Would You Sunbathe Topless? A British woman and a group of female friends attended a Her description of her realization of what going topfree felt music festival in Spain being exposed to Spanish and like is priceless: “Going topless was a feeling similar to southern European values. European women feel very taking off a plaster after it had healed its wound” comfortable with their breasts uncovered. She wonders why In the UK and the US, there is a strong relationship between Brits are so unlike their European counterparts in this regard. the media and breasts. We’re accustomed to seeing breasts on Perhaps inspired by the moment she and a number of her page 3 and in lads’ mags as though they’re the latest winners colleagues decided to spend their sunbathing time topless. It of X Factor, but never as simply part of the female body. was inspired by the relaxed atmosphere and a desire to rebel Another telling insight is how women are taught to think against the sexualized taboo surrounding breasts in British having their breasts out is not something one does casually culture. That’s when the transformation began. for oneself – it is done for others. What’s worse, we contrib- “Going topless on the first day was a feeling similar to taking ute to this by being self-conscious about our bodies, and off a plaster [cast] after it had healed its wound. Once obsessing over the impossible ideal we must attain. removed, you’re displaying a much paler part of your body. All of this is part of a larger body dissatisfaction problem. But then you become accustomed to the breeze on your skin She doesn’t think there are many women in Britain who have and you realize how nice it is to have liberated yourself from never experienced anxiety surrounding their body. Whether a wet bikini. My fellow topless sunbathers all agreed that it it’s a bum/pair of breasts/set of legs, we are constantly trying made them feel more comfortable with their bodies, not less. to fit a very narrow definition of perfection. Her conclusion, We were united in feeling that it demystifies breasts, too. We “All I can say is that during my week in Spain, all of my were neither staring at each other’s bare chests nor looking anxieties vanished with my bikini top. I really didn’t care.” away from them. We were simply getting used to them as part of our natural bodies.” She wishes it could be the same at home, and if the predicted heat wave does arrive, she’s going to sunbathe topless on Two in the group were embarrassed because of the size of Hampstead Heath. their breasts. Another said she saw her breasts as a private and sexual thing she didn’t want to be seen by ‘everyone’ – http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/reports/a29316/topless- both reasons echo our overly sexualized culture. sunbathing-benefits/ Lake Edun Foundation, Inc. Membership Application P.O. Box 1982 Change of Address Form Topeka, KS 66601-1982 Please Print

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Phone: DOB E-mail Address All information provided is strictly confidential. If you are joining as a per year may deduct $50. One subscription to our newsletter Bare Facts couple, include names for both people. If you are a couple not living is included with membership. A subscription only to Bare Facts is together, make a copy of this form for the other individual. (NB: To available for $20.00. New members will receive a Waiver and Release promote gender diversity, a couple is defined as one male and one which must be completed before membership is finalized. Visitation female.) Those willing to assist with upkeep a minimum of 10 hours restrictions apply to Associate Membership. Membership Fees: Single Couple Amount Lake Edun Foundation Membership 275.00 350.00 Working Membership (Discount) (50.00) (50.00) Associate Member (Over 125 miles away) 175.00 250.00 NUTs Membership (Must be under 30) 75.00 Separate Mailing Address for members 12.00 No Sex, No Violence ... Only Nudity First Naked Plays – DVD 25.00 Lake Edun Exposed – DVD or video 45.00 Naturist Society Membership 60.00 Subscription to Bare Facts only 20.00 Tax Deductible Donation Total Enclosed - Check, Money Order, or Credit Card Charge my G Visa; G MasterCard G Discover G AmEx # Exp. / Note: There is a $30 charge for any checks returned unpaid for any reason. Security code